A career in event management
So how do you become a wedding planner, party planner or an event planner? The short answer to this question is, there isn’t a single way to get into events. We’ve listed some academic and non-academic avenues below you can look at taking to get into the event industry.
University
First way is to look at studying a graduate course at university. Lot’s of universities offer Events Management as an undergraduate degree and also postgraduate degree. It’s certainly worth looking at many universities to see if this is an option for you. The only downside here is that you may not get practical experience (unless you have a part-time event job).
Online courses & other academic routes
If time isn’t on your side, you can look at online courses or other alternative routes, which can deliver the same value as a degree. There are plenty of CIM accredited Event Management courses, which can be a cheaper alternative to university. There are a combination of: short courses, degree alternatives, intensive courses, foundation certificates and part-time diplomas.
Towards the end of your academic career to get into the events industry, it would be worth attending event career summits such as Event Careers Live. This is a brilliant way to get in front of the event agency hiring managers themselves!
Experience, experience, experience!
The next option is to start from the bottom as an events assistant. Some people may find that this is a better option to get into events. You can save some money not paying for tuition fees and you are getting real life practical experience. Something that a degree will never be able to teach – this in invaluable.
Event Agencies
You can often get experience working at event agencies, this way you can quickly work on different events and gain some experience real quick.
In-house event teams
Another option is to look at roles within companies. Lot’s of companies will have their very own events team if they run a lot of events. This could be a great secure way to get some experience. Some of these teams will also out-source to agencies, so it could be a good option if you want some agency exposure.
Charities
A great way to get into events is to volunteer your spare time to a charity. You can quickly learn about events this way whilst getting a warm fuzzy feeling that you are giving back to the community.
Event Associations
To help propel you into the events industry, you can consider joining industry bodies such as the Association of Event Organisers. This is a great way to maintain your industry knowledge, receive event insights, network with like-minded individuals, and have the opportunity to enter industry awards. Alternatively, if you are looking at furthering your career within the venue side of the industry, you can consider joining the Association of Event Venues. Although individuals cannot join, it may be worth asking your leadership team.
In summary, there isn’t a right or wrong way to get into events (unlike some professions), so it’s important to choose the avenue that suits you best.